Device for stacking articles



Jan. 22, 1963 H. ENGLESON ETAL 3,074,567

DEVICE FOR STACKING ARTICLES I Original Filed June 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l RRY E. L ON 48 ELMER D. SRAMEK 1963 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 3,074,567

DEVICE FOR STACKING ARTICLES Original Filed June 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

44 INVENTORS'. HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ATT'YS United States This invention relates to an article packing machine and mechanism for stacking articles to be packed, and more particularly to the stacking of a predetermined number of packaged articles and the packing of a stack of articles into a cardboard tray.

The article packing machine of the present invention receives a continuous supply of packaged articles, such as gum (packaged four to six sticks to a pack) along a continuously moving conveyor, and transfers a predetermined number of packaged articles from the conveyor to a stacking platform or table periodically until apredetermined stack of articles has been made. The stacked articles are then transferred from the stacking platform or table in block form onto a tray blank, after which they are plunged through and packaged by a tray blank as more specifically described in our copending application, Serial No. 822,647, filed June 24, 1959, now Patent No. 3,031,814, of which this is a division.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved article packing machine and mechanism for stacking articles .to be packed, wherein packaged articles are stacked to form a block and then packed into a cardboard tray.

Still another object of this invention is in the provision of a stacking mechanism which includes a stacking table and a pusher for intermittently pushing a predetermined number of packaged articles onto the table until a block of stacked articles is formed.

Other objects, features and advantages .of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly diagrammatic, of the packing .machine according to the invention, with some parts omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. '2 is a top plan view, partly diagrammatic, taken of the stacking mechanism, taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. :3 is a detail enlarged perspective view of the stacking plunger and associated parts;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view, with some parts broken away, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are taken generally along line 5of'FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating more or less diagrammatically the stacking procedure of the plunger of the stacking mechanism of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, rectangularly-shaped articles A are 'fed to the stacking mechanism, generally designatedlby the numeral 20, FIGS. 1 and 2, by a continuously moving endless belt conveyor 21. The articles A generally constitute packaged goods, such as a package of chewing gum which includes four vto six sticks of gum. Accordingly, a continuous supply of articles A are delivered to the stacking mechanism 26 which stacks a predetermined number of articles into block form for packing in a tray blank.

The endless'belt conveyor 21 includes an endless belt 22 trained over spaced rotatable pulleys, only pulley 23 atent ICQ shown. The pulley 23 is carried on a shaft 25. A driven sprocket 27 is also mounted on the shaft 25 and drivingly connected to an output drive sprocket (not shown) by an endless transmission member or chain 29.

In addition to the stacking mechanism 20', the machine in general includes a magazine unloader generally designated by the numeral 40, a tray blank prefolder generally designated by the numeral 41, a gluing mechanism generally designated by the numeral 42, and a tray forming mechanism generally designated by the numeral 43 which also fills the tray by forming the .tray about a group of articles. In the general operation of the machine, the magazine unloader 40 unloads one tray blank at a time from its magazine, and the tray blanks are delivered one at a time to a tray blank prefolder 41. Certain parts of each tray blank .are prefolded by the prefolder 41, and the tray blanks are then delivered to the gluing mechanism 42-. Glue is applied to centain parts of each tray blank by the gluing mechanism 42, and that tray blank is then delivered to the tray forming mechanism 43. A stack of articles in block form is delivered from the stacking mechanism 20 to the tray forming mechanism 43- on a tray blank already delivered to the tray forming mechanism, wherein the tray forming mechanism then forms the tray about the block stack form of articles. Thus, the machine not only serves to form the tray, but also serves to till the tray with the stacked group of articles.

The articles A are stacked onto a stacking table 44, FIG. 2, by action of a reciprocable stacking plunger 45. It may be appreciated that the stacking operation may be performed onto a pocketed conveyor if the articles are to be packaged in containers other than trays. As the articles are advanced toward the plunger 45, they are guided between opposed guiding plates 46, FIG. .3, Which align the opposite ends of the articles relative to each other. .A stop plate 47, FIGS. 1 and 2, extends transverse the upper run of the conveyor belt 22. adjacent the pulley 23 and serves to prevent advancing of the articles A beyond this point. The conveyor belt 22 is driven continuously, whereby when articles are in abutting relationship against the stop plate 47, the belt will slip relative to .the articles, and the articles will effectively stack up against one another against the stop plate 47.

The stacking plunger 45 includes .a forward article pushing bar 48 extending parallel to the movement of the conveyor and of a dimension to engage a predetermined number of articles for transfer thereof onto the stacking table 44. As the stacking plunger 44 advances to push a predetermined number of articles A, in this case five, ofif the conveyor belt 22 anjdonto the stacking table 44, a stop bar 49 integral with the plunger and extending perpendicular to the pushing 'bar 48, and in spaced relationship from the stop plate 47, commences operation 'by holding back movement of the articles A toward the stationary stop plate 47 during the unloading-of the conveyor of a predetermined number of articles 'by the stacking plunger.

The stacking'plunger 45 is reciprocated by an actuating lever 58 which is pivotally connected to the stacking plunger 45 at 59, FIG. 3. Suitable means, not shown, may be provided for rocking the lever 58 to drive the plunger such as disclosed in the above identified copending application.

Referring to .FIGS. 3 and 4, the stacking plunger 45 has a roller 61 extending laterally from one side and rotatable along an axis parallel to the pushing bar 48. .The roller 61 is slidably received ina channel track 62 that is pivotally mounted at 63 and 64 to crank arms 65 and 66, respectively, of a parallel linkage arrangement. The crank arms 65 and 66 are pivotallymounted at 67 and 68 to an upstanding plate 69 which is stationarily carried by the framework of the machine. The crank arms are connected together by a connecting link 7% in order that they move together to raise and lower the channel track 62. An extension is provided on the crank arm 65 to pivotally connect at 71 to a connecting link 72, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 73 to an upstanding lever 74. Suitable means, not shown, may be provided to rock the lever '74 to reciprocate the link 72, such as shown and described in the above identified copending application. Reciprocation of the connecting link 72 rocks the parallel linkage arrangement for raising and lowering the channel track 62 that provides a guide for the stacking plunger 45. The channel track 62 is in a lowered position during the advancing of the stacking plunger 45 to push a group of articles from the conveyor to the stacking table 44, at which time the channel track 62 is raised so that the face of the stop bar 49 on the stacking plunger is raised a sufficiently high distance in order to permit advancement of the articles by the conveyor belt 22 toward the stop plate 47 during the return stroke of the stacking plunger 45. Thus, when the stacking plunger 45 reaches the starting position again for pushing the next group of articles from the conveyor belt 22, the articles will be advanced toward the stop plate 47 in order to provide a full group of articles for subsequent transfer to the stacking table 44.

Inasmuch as a certain amount of friction exists between the stop bar 49 on the stacking plunger 45 when the stop bar is in engagement with articles, it is preferable to hold down the adjacent articles to the stop bar 49 in order to prevent raising of those articles from a properly oriented position. This is accomplished by mounting a hold down plate 31, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, directly adjacent the stop bar 49 of the stacking plunger 45, which serves to prevent the articles A adjacent to the stop bar 49 from raising with the raising of the stacking plunger 45. Of course, the stop plate 81 will be spaced a sufiicient distance above the conveyor belt 22 in order to provide free movement of the articles between the hold down plate and the conveyor belt. The hold down plate 81 is suitably secured at opposite sides to a stationary part of the framework.

Between the conveyor belt 22 and the stacking table 44, a stationary article supporting surface 82, coplanar with the upper surface of the belt 22, is positioned over which articles are slid by the advancement of the pusher 45, FIGS. 8 to 11. The article receiving surface of the stacking table 44 is spaced below the article surface 82 a distance equal to at least the height of a single article. At the innermost end of the stacking table 44, an upstanding article stop plate 83 is secured to the table transverse the path of the articles in order to restrict the movement of the articles. Approximately centrally of the stacking table is a stop plate 84 having a height equal to or less than the height of an article. Preferably, the height of the stop plate 84 is less than the height of an article, While the height of the stop plate 83 is more than the height of a single article A. Accordingly, a first article supporting surface 85 is defined between the stop plate 84 and the projection above the stacking table surface defining the stationary article surface 82, while a second article supporting surface 86 is defined between the stop plates 83 and 84 on the stacking table 44. The article supporting surface 85 is spaced a distance downwardly from the article surface 82 at least equal to the height of an article A, and preferably greater than the height of an article A. The distance between the projection defining the article surface 82 and the stop plate 84 is slightly greater than the length of an article A. Similarly, the distance between the stop plates 83 and 84- is preferably slightly greater than the length of an article A.

The stacking operation for stacking a group of articles into block form is initiated by advancement of the stacking plunger 45 to push the first group of articles into the area between the surface 82 and the stop plate 84 to the position designated by the numeral 87 in FIG. 8. The next successive group of articles pushed from the conveyor belt 22 by the stacking plunger 45 is then pushed to a position directly above the first stack of articles as indicated by the numeral 88 in FIG. 9. The next successive transfer of a group of articles from the conveyor belt 22 to the stacking table 44 serves to push the group of articles 88 forwardly into the space between the stops 83 and 34 and into a position designated by the numeral 89 above the first group of articles 87. The final transfer of a group of articles for one cycle of operation serves to advance the group of articles 89 from its posi tion above the articles 37 to a position above the article group 88 and then stop in a position designated by the numeral 96 above the first group of articles 87. Thus, after the deposit of the first group of articles onto the stacking table, and the deposit of the second group of articles onto the first group of articles, the third and fourth groups of articles serve to advance the second and then the third group of articles in order to completely form the block stack form of articles wherein they are stacked two high. Thus, the first group of articles 87 serves to provide a sliding surface for movement of the second group of articles 89 into the space between the stop plates 35 and 84 and to provide a sliding surface for the third group of articles to be advanced to the position over the group of articles designated by the numeral 88. It may be noted that the article supporting surface 85 between the stop plate 84 and the sliding sur face 82 is slightly elevated from the article supporting surface 86 between the stop plates 83 and 84. This slightly raises the first group of articles 87 whereby their upper surface is raised above the second group of articles 89 when the second group of articles is received on a supporting surface 86 in order to prevent catching of the leading corners of the articles 89 during their advancement to the position shown in FIG. 11.

After the stack block of articles has been formed by the stacking mechanism 20, it is then transferred to the tray forming and filling mechanism 43 by a pusher bar 91 which is secured to a mounting bar 92. The operation of .the pusher 91 is synchronized with the stacking mechanism. The path of reciprocal movement of the pusher 91 is such that after it has effected its pushing stroke of the stacked block of articles to the tray forming and filling mechanism 43, it is elevated so that it will be above the travel of the next incoming groups of articles to the stacking plate 44- during its return movement.

Tray blanks are delivered one at a time to the tray forming and filling mechanism 43 from a tray blank magazine 1121, FIG. 4. The magazine unloader 40 associated with the magazine 121 unloads tray blanks one at a time therefrom. Any type of magazine unloading mechanism may be utilized, such as the one set forth in our above identified copending application. Moreover, further illustration of the operation of the magazine unloader 4%), prefolder 41, gluing mechanism 42 and tray forming mechanism 43 is disclosed in our above identified copending application.

This application is a divisional of our copending application, Serial No. 822,647, filed June 24, 1959.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In an article packing machine, a device for stacking articles into block form, two rows end to end and two high, said device comprising a stationary stacking table having a first stationary stop means at one end, a second stationary stop means centrally of the table and parallel to said .first stop means and of a height less than the height of an article, and means for successively pushing a predetermined number of articles onto said table until a block stack of articles is formed, said second stationary stop means located to stop an article pushed onto said table by said pushing means and thereafter preventing further movement toward said first stationary stop means of an article stopped thereby, and said secondstationary stop means being so spaced from said first stationary stop means to receive an article therebetween.

2. In an article packing machine, a continuously operating conveyor advancing articles therealong, stop means for stopping movement of articles by the conveyor, a plunger reciprocable transversely of the conveyor for successively pushing a predetermined number of articles trom the conveyor, a stationary stacking table laterally adjacent the conveyor and align-ed with the plunger for [receiving articles pushed from the conveyor by the plunger and spaced below the conveyor, a first stationary stop means on said table spaced a distance from the conveyor slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, and a second stationary stop means parallel spaced beyond the first stop means a distance slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said second stationary stop means located to stop an article pushed onto said table by said pushing means and thereafter preventing further movement toward said first stationary stop means of an article stopped thereby.

3. In an article packing machine, a continuously operating conveyor advancing articles therealong, stop means for stopping movement of articles by the conveyor, a plunger reciprocable transversely of the conveyor for successively pushing a predetermined number of articles from the conveyor, a stationary stacking table laterally adjacent the conveyor and aligned with the plunger path for receiving articles pushed from the conveyor by the plunger, said table being spaced below the conveying surface of the conveyor a depth at least equal to the height of an article, a first stationary stop means on said table spaced a distance from the conveyor slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, and a second stationary stop means parallel spaced beyond the first stop means a distance slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said second stationary stop means located to stop an article pushed onto said table by said pushing means and thereafter preventing further movement toward said first stationary stop means of an article stopped thereby.

4. In an article packing machine, a continuously operating conveyor advancing articles therealong, stop means for stopping movement of articles by the conveyor, a plunger reciprocable transversely of the conveyor for successively pushing a predetermined number of articles from the conveyor, a stationary stacking table laterally adjacent the conveyor and aligned with the plunger path for receiving articles pushed from the conveyor by the plunger, said table being spaced below the conveying surface of the conveyor a depth at least equal to the height of an article, a first stationary stop means on said table spaced a distance from the conveyor slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said first stop means being mounted on said table and having a height less than the height of an article, and a second stationary stop means parallel spaced beyond the first stop means a distance slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said second stationary stop means located to stop an article pushed onto said table by said pushing means and thereafter preventing further movement toward said first stationary stop means of an article stopped thereby.

5. In an article packing machine, a continuously operat- 6 ing conveyor advancing articles therealong, a stop means for stopping movement of articles by the conveyor, a plunger reciprocable transversely of the conveyor for successively pushing a predetermined number of articles from the conveyor, a stacking table laterally adjacent the conveyor and aligned with the plunger path for receiving articles pushed from the conveyor by the plunger, 'said table being spaced below the conveying surface of the conveyor "a depth at leastequal to the height of 'an art-icle, a first stop means on said table spaced a distance from the conveyor slightly greater than .the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said first stop means being mounted on said table and having a height less than the height of an article, and a second stop means spaced beyond the first stop means a distance slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said second stop means being mounted on said table and having a height at least greater than the height of an article, whereby the first group of articles pushed from the conveyor are positioned directly on the table between the conveyor and first stop means, the second group of articles pushed from the conveyor is positioned on said first group of articles, the third group of articles pushed from the conveyor pushes the second group of articles to be positioned directly on said table between said first and second stop means and said third group of articles is positioned on said first group of articles, and the fourth group of articles pushed from the conveyor pushes the third group of articles to be positioned on said second group of articles and said fourth group of articles is positioned on said first group of articles thereby completing a block form stack of articles.

6. In an article packing machine, a continuously moving belt conveyor advancing articles therealong, a stop extending transverse the conveyor for stopping movement of the articles by the conveyor, a plunger movable transversely of the conveyor to push a predetermined number of articles from the conveyor, means on the plunger for stopping the movement of the articles by the conveyor during pushing of the articles from the conveyor, means for raising the plunger above the conveyor a distance such as to permit resumption of movement of the articles by the conveyor during return of the plunger to push a successive predetermined number of articles from the conveyor, a stationary stacking table laterally adjacent the conveyor and aligned with the plunger for receiving articles pushed from the conveyor, said table being spaced below the conveyor a distance at least equal to the height of an article, a first stationary stop means on said table spaced a distance from the conveyor slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, and a second stationary stop means parallel spaced beyond the first stop means a distance slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said second stationary stop means located to stop an article pushed onto said table by said pushing means and thereafter preventing further movement toward said first stationary stop means of an article stopped thereby.

7. In an article packing machine, a continuously moving belt conveyor advancing articles therealong, a stop extending transverse the conveyor for stopping movement of the articles by the conveyor, a plunger movable transversely of the conveyor to push a predetermined number of articles from the conveyor, means on the plunger for stopping the movement of the articles by the conveyor during pushing of the articles from the conveyor, means for raising the plunger above the conveyor a distance such as to permit resumption of movement of the articles by the conveyor during return of the plunger to push a successive predetermined number of articles from the conveyor, a stationary stacking table laterally adjacent the conveyor and aligned with the plunger for receiving articles pushed from the conveyor, said table being spaced below the conveyor a distance at least equal to the height of an article, a first stationary stop means on said table spaced a distance from the conveyor slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said first stop means being mounted on said table and having a height less than the height of an article, and a second stationary stop means parallel spaced beyond the first stop means a distance slightly greater than the dimension of the article along the axis transverse the conveyor, said second stop means being mounted on said table and having a height at least greater than 1 the height of an article, said second stationary stop means located to stop an article pushed onto said table by said pushing means and thereafter preventing further movement toward said first stationary stop means of an article stopped thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,077,830 Failinger Apr. 20, 1937 2,607,467 Morgan Aug. 19, 1952 2,956,381 Chauvin et a1 Oct. 18, 1960 

1. IN AN ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE, A DEVICE FOR STACKING ARTICLES INTO BLOCK FORM, TWO ROWS END TO END AND TWO HIGH, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A STATIONARY STACKING TABLE HAVING A FIRST STATIONARY STOP MEANS AT ONE END, A SECOND STATIONARY STOP MEANS CENTRALLY OF THE TABLE AND PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST STOP MEANS AND OF A HEIGHT LESS THAN THE HEIGHT OF AN ARTICLE, AND MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY PUSHING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF ARTICLES ONTO SAID TABLE UNTIL A BLOCK STACK OF ARTICLES IS FORMED, SAID SECOND STATIONARY STOP MEANS LOCATED TO STOP AN ARTICLE PUSHED ONTO SAID TABLE BY SAID PUSHING MEANS AND THEREAFTER PREVENTING FURTHER MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID FIRST STATIONARY STOP MEANS OF AN ARTICLE STOPPED THEREBY, AND SAID SECOND STATIONARY STOP MEANS BEING SO SPACED FROM SAID FIRST STATIONARY STOP MEANS TO RECEIVE AN ARTICLE THEREBETWEEN. 